Intro.1. Centurion’s servant near death. Sent Jewish elders
to Jesus to ask Him to save his servant. Jesus went, but centurion sent his
friends to Jesus, asking Him to just say the word & servant would be healed (Lk.
7:6-7).

a. He understood authority (Matt. 8:9).

b.
“Great faith” (Matt. 8:10); Servant
healed (Matt. 8:13).

2.
Contrast the faith of the centurion & the “sons of the kingdom” (8:10-12):

a. 8:10 – Great faith, but not in
Israel.

b. 8:11 – Gentile inclusion into the
kingdom due to faith.

c.
8:12 – Sons of the kingdom (Jews) cast
out for lack of faith.

3.
Proper understanding & submission to God’s authority is crucial to faith; it is
that which defined & distinguished centurion's faith: He
understood authority!

I. THE RIGHTS OF AUTHORITY, Matt. 8:8-9 (Lk.
7:7-8); Matt. 28:18.

(“From the meaning of leave or permission, or liberty of doing as one
pleases, it passed to that of the ability or strength with which one is
endued, then to that of the power of authority, the right to exercise power...or
thepower of rule or government, the power of one whose will
and commands must be obeyed by others” –Vine, 45). -JESUS-

A.
The One with Authority has the Rightto Rule, 8:9; Psa. 2:6-7, 10-12; Eph. 1:21-23.

B. The One with Authority has the Right to Bless, 8:8 (Rom.
13:3-4); Jno. 17:2.

C. The One with Authority has the Right to Judge, 8:9; (Jno.
19:10); Jno. 5:26-29.

Lesson: Our
faith must acknowledge Christ possesses the right (power) to rule, to
bless & to judge our submission to Him (His will).

II. SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY, Matt. 8:8-9; Lk. 7:7-8.

A.
Some are not Willing to Yield to Authority.

1. Naaman: 2 Kgs. 5:1, 9-14
(finally persuaded).

2. King Saul: 1 Sam. 15:13-14, 19
– Argued he had obeyed, yet he had not (15:22-23).
[Both cases, pride the obstacle to submissive obedience.]